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Ask Your Provider how to get connected to HDTV Programming

If you already have digital cable, then it may be simpler to get HDTV into your home than you think. Many cable companies are now letting people switch to a different kind of box which allows them to view HDTV channels. This switch out is sometimes as low as $5 additional per month. If that seems like a lot, you might not think so when you see the quality of the high definition picture which HDTV provides. You will get more of the picture, a wide screen effect, which will make you feel like you are at the movies, and with the right connections, 5.1 surround sound quality or better. Keep in mind that if you already receive digital cable, or a DTV transmission, that does not necessarily mean that you have high definition capabilities on your TV set. However, if you already have digital cable, the chances are that you are only one or two steps away from having HDTV in your very own living room. Here is what you need to know and what you will need to find out from your provider.

The first step is to make sure that you have the right kind of TV set. Buying an HDTV-ready or HDTV-compatible TV will be what the cable company asks you to do first. Do not feel like you are being taken by some mysterious set-up between your cable provider and the forces that be. Whether you were going with satellite or an over-the-air pick-up of HDTV channels, you would still need to get a TV set which has the right set-ups. You will need to do a little research to find out which HDTV you want. Some will offer a built-in tuner. Others will be HD-capable, or HD-ready. HD-Ready and HD-capable usually mean the same thing, which is that your TV set is ready to accept whatever mode of HDTV signal you choose. However, do make sure that you verify that you will be able to actually experience HD on the TV you pick. Some HD-ready TVs only let your receive the signal, rather than really see it.

After you get your new TV set, which should hopefully be your biggest expense for getting HD programming, you can find out how your cable provider will get the technology to your home. Most cable providers are offering new ways to get your HDTV set-up. An upgraded cable box is either rented or bought from them, or they will give you a special Cable Card.

The Cable Card is a new technology for HD-capable sets. The Cable Card will be inserted into the Cable Card slot on your TV. This of course means that you purchased a TV set which has this technology. The benefit to getting this kind of HD-ready TV is that it will allow for you to skip the set-top box all together. These TVs are called "digital cable ready."

If you go with the cable set-top box option, then you will also receive all the same channels as you would with the cable card set up. The cable provider will add a premium to your monthly fee for having the HDTV service. Many people are finding that satellite companies are requiring that one buys the set-box top from them, rather than renting it. Be glad that you can always give the cable box back to the cable provider when you are ready to move onto the next technology, which is inevitable, if one judges TV technology from the last 20 years.

Whatever you do, find out what your local cable provider recommends first as far as purchasing a new TV goes. Find out what they charge for purchasing or renting the HD set-top box or for the cable card. Also, learn about which stations and channels they offer in high definition and whether you will be able to record them onto your DVR or TIVO, if you want that option, too. Asking a cable representative what they have, or asking about what you would like to have in your home as far as HD options, is sometimes the quickest way to find out which direction to go. If you can afford to get a TV set with the majority of options and capabilities, then you are more likely to be able to upgrade in the future, too.

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